RECENT RESULTS ON COHOMOLOGY JUMP LOCI

arXiv:1507.06714v1 [math.AG] 24 Jul 2015

NERO BUDUR AND BOTONG WANG

Abstract. This is a survey of recent results related to cohomology jump loci. It emphasizes connections with deformations with cohomology constraints, global structural
results for rank one local systems and line bundles, some connections with restrictions
on fundamental groups and homotopy types, and connections with classical singularity
theory and Bernstein-Sato ideals.

Dedicated to Steve Zuckers 65th birthday

Contents
1. Introduction
2. Cohomology jump ideals
3. Deformation theory
4. Deformations of holomorphic vector bundles
5. Deformations of representations and local systems
6. Line bundles and rank one local systems
7. Fundamental groups and homotopy type
8. Small ball complements and Bernstein-Sato ideals
References

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30

1. Introduction
Let M be a moduli space parametrizing objects P that come with C vector spaces
H i (P ) (i Z).
For example, some cohomology theory. The cohomology jump loci of M are defined
set-theoretically as
Vki = {P M | dim H i (P ) k}.
For every i, there is a chain of inclusions
M = V0i V1i V2i . . .
In many situations, the cohomology jump loci form closed subsets of the moduli
space. When the moduli is an algebraic variety or a scheme, the cohomology jump
loci are usually closed subschemes. Cohomology jump loci are at least as complex as
the moduli, and in general everything can be a moduli space. Hence the study of the
cohomology jump loci can be described as finding a balance between general setups one
can focus on and interesting properties one can draw.
1

NERO BUDUR AND BOTONG WANG

In this article one finds a survey of the recent results related to cohomology jump
loci. It emphasizes connections with deformations with cohomology constraints, global
structural results for rank one local systems and line bundles, some connections with
restrictions on fundamental groups and homotopy types, and connections with classical
singularity theory and Bernstein-Sato ideals.
There are many results left out. For example, we do not survey the all the implications
on quasi-projective groups one can draw from the global structure of cohomology jump
loci of rank one local systems. We also do not survey the large body of work dedicated to
complements of hyperplane arrangements. One can find these two topics in the surveys
by Suciu [Su-2011, Su-2015].
Acknowledgement. The first author thanks Steve Zucker and the Department of
Mathematics of the Johns Hopkins University for the hospitality during the writing of
this survey. The first author was partly sponsored by NSA, FWO, a KU Leuven OT
grant, and a Flemish Methusalem grant.
2. Cohomology jump ideals
2.1. Old algebraic example: Fitting ideals. Let R be a commutative ring and M
a finitely generated R-module. Consider a free finite rank presentation of M
d

Rn Rm M 0.
Define the Fitting ideals of M
Jk (M) R
as the ideals
Jk (M) = Imk+1 (d)
generated by the minors of size m k + 1 of the matrix d. We set Jk (M) = 0 for k 0,
and Jk (M) = R for k > m. One has the classical result of Alexander and Fitting, see
[Ei-1995, 20.2]:
Theorem 2.1. Let R be a commutative ring and M a finitely generated R-module. The
Fitting ideal Jk (M) depends only on M and k, and not on the presentation of M.
Let M = Spec(R). The ideals Jk (M) define closed subschemes
Vk (M) M.
There is a chain of closed embeddings
M = V0 (M) V1 (M) . . . Vm+1 (M)
Thinking of M as the moduli space of its closed points, each closed point comes with
an assigned vector space
(m = maximal ideal of R) 7 M R R/m.
Moreover, Vk (M) is set-theoretically
Vk (M) = {m R maximal ideal | dimR/m (M R R/m) k},
hence it is a cohomology jump locus.

RECENT RESULTS ON COHOMOLOGY JUMP LOCI

2.2. Cohomology jump ideals are generalized Fitting ideals. In [BW-2013], the
construction and the key properties of the Fitting ideals were generalized simultaneously
in two directions: to define invariants of a module from a whole free resolution, not just
from a free presentation, and to define these invariants for complexes of modules.
q
Let R be a noetherian commutative ring, and let M be a complex of R-modules,
q
bounded above. Suppose H i (M ) is a finitely generated R-module. There always exists
q
a bounded above complex F of finitely generated free R-modules and a morphism of
complexes
q
q
g : F M
q
which is a quasi-isomorphism. We define the cohomology jump ideals of M to be
Jki (M ) = Irank(F i )k+1 (di1 di )
q

where I denotes the determinantal ideal as above, and

di1 : F i1 F i

di : F i F i+1

and

are the differentials of the complex F . The same conventions for ideals generated by
minors as in the previous subsection apply when rank(F i ) k + 1 falls outside the range
of the size of minors.
q
The cohomology jump loci of a bounded above complex M of R-modules with
finitely generated cohomology are the closed subschemes
q

Vki (M ) Spec(R)
q

defined by the cohomology jump ideals Jki (M ). In some sense, this is the mother of all
examples of cohomology jump loci.
q

Remark 2.2. If M is a finitely generated R-module, then the Fitting ideals of M

coincide with the 0-cohomology jump ideals of M seen as a complex
M[0] = [. . . 0 M 0 . . .]
with trivial terms outside degree 0:
Jk (M) = Jk0 (M[0])

and

Vk (M) = Vk0 (M[0]).

Theorem 2.3. ([BW-2013]) Let R be a noetherian commutative ring. Let M be a

q
complex of R-modules, bounded above, with finitely generated cohomology. Then Jki (M )
q
q
depends only on M, i, and k, and not on the choice of resolution F of M .
q

An important first property is:

Corollary 2.4. If M is quasi-isomorphic to N , then Jki (M ) = Jki (N ).
q

Since taking determinantal ideals commutes with base change, one has the following
base change property of the cohomology jump ideals:
Corollary 2.5. Let R and M be defined as above, and let S be a noetherian R-algebra.
q
Moreover, suppose M is a complex of flat R-modules, then
q

Jki (M ) S = Jki (M R S),

q

where we regard M R S as a complex of S modules.

q

NERO BUDUR AND BOTONG WANG

When R is a field, by definition Jki (M ) = 0 if dim H i (M ) k and Jki (M ) = R if

q
dim H i (M ) < k. Thus, we have the following:
q

Corollary 2.6. Suppose M is a complex of flat R-modules. Then for any maximal
q
ideal m of R, Jki (M ) m if and only if
q

dimR/m H i (M R R/m) k.
q

This says that the cohomology jump ideals deserve their name.
Remark 2.7. (Tor jumping loci) If M is a finitely generated R-module, the ideals Jki (M)
put a closed subscheme structure on the Tor jumping loci:
Vki (M)red = {P Spec(R) closed point | dimR/mP TorR
i (M, R/mP ) k}.
Remark 2.8. (Syzygies) If M is a finitely generated R-module and F is a free resq
olution, the syzygies of M are defined as the kernels of the differentials of F . Hence
the cohomology jump loci of a syzygy of M coincide with the far-enough-to-the-left
cohomology jump loci of M.
q

2.3. Dimension bounds. Recall the following classical homological algebra statement
from [Ei-1995, Theorem 20.9]:
Theorem 2.9. Let R be a ring. Let
d0

dn1

0 F 0 F 1 . . . F n1 F n
be a complex of free finitely generated R-modules. Then this complex is exact if and only
if
rank(F i ) = rank(di1 di )
and
depth Irank(di ) (di ) n i.
By applying this statement to the exact complex (F [1] F , d[1] d), one has
the following universal bound for cohomology support loci:
q

Theorem 2.10. With the same assumptions as in the previous theorem, if F is exact,
then
q
depth J1i (F ) n i.
q

3. Deformation theory
3.1. Local study. By a deformation problem we mean describing the formal scheme
or the analytic germ M(P ) at some object P of some moduli space M. A deformation
problem is equivalent to describing the corresponding functor, which we denote also by
M(P ) :
M(P ) : ART SET,
where ART is the category of Artinian local algebras of finite type over k, and SET is
the category of sets. Assuming M is a k-scheme, on objects the functor is defined as
A 7 Homksch (Spec(A), M(P )) = Homkalg(OM(P ) , A).

RECENT RESULTS ON COHOMOLOGY JUMP LOCI

This functor is usually well-defined even if the moduli space is not. That is, by passing
to the categorical language, one can still ask about the deformations of some object
P inside a category. For example, one can ask about the deformations of a coherent
sheaf on an algebraic variety, regardless of any stability conditions necessary for the
construction of moduli spaces.
Suppose now the objects parametrized by M come with a cohomology theory, so that
one has the stratification of M by the cohomology jump loci Vki . The study of the formal
or analytic germs of the cohomology jump loci at an object P amounts to studying the
associated functor on Artinian local algebras as a subfunctor
i
Vk,(P
) M(P ) .

Even if the moduli space does not exist, the corresponding deformation problem with
cohomology constraints is usually well-defined.
3.2. Differential graded Lie algebras. In a letter written by P. Deligne to J. Millson
in 1986 in connection with the paper [GM-1988] by Goldman-Millson, a principle of
sweeping generality was stated. The letter is available on J. Millsons webpage [De-1986].
Delignes Principle. Every deformation problem over a field of characteristic zero
is controlled by a differential graded Lie algebra, with two quasi-isomorphic differential
graded Lie algebras giving the same deformation theory.
We explain next the meaning of Delignes Principle.
From now on, k = C. We use the abbreviation DGLA for a differential graded Lie
algebra.
Definition 3.1. A DGLA consists of the following set of data,
L
(1) a graded vector space C = iN C i over C,
(2) a Lie bracket which is bilinear, graded skew-commutative, and satisfies the graded
Jacobi identity, i.e., for any C i , C j and C k ,
[, ] + (1)ij [, ] = 0
and
(1)ki [, [, ]] + (1)ij [, [, ]] + (1)jk [, [, ]] = 0
(3) a family of linear maps, called the differential maps, di : C i C i+1 , satisfying
di+1 di = 0 and the Leibniz rule, i.e., for C i and C
d[, ] = [d, ] + (1)i [, d]
P
where d = di : C C.
We denote this DGLA by (C, d), or C when there is no risk of confusion. A homomorphism of DGLAs is a linear map which preserves the grading, Lie bracket, and the
differential maps.
Definition 3.2. A homomorphism of DGLAs g : C D is 1-equivalent if it induces
an isomorphism on cohomology up to degree 1 and a monomorphism at degree 2. Two
DGLAs are of the same 1-homotopy type, if they can be connected by a zig-zag of
1-equivalences.
The nicest DGLAs form a particular class:

NERO BUDUR AND BOTONG WANG

Definition 3.3. For a DGLA (C, d), the cohomology forms a natural DGLA (H (C), 0)
with zero differential. We say the DGLA C is 1-formal if C is of the same 1-homotopy
q
type as (H (C), 0).
q

Given a DGLA (C, d), one can attach naturally a functor, called the deformation
functor,
Def(C, d) : ART SET
defined on Artinian local rings by
Maurer-Cartan elements of C C mA
A 7
,
gauge
that is,
{ C 1 C mA | d + 12 [, ] = 0}
.
A 7
C 0 C mA
Here mA is the maximal ideal of A, and C C mA is naturally a DGLA by letting
[ a, b] = [, ] ab
d( a) = d a.
Since (C C m)0 = C 0 C m is a nilpotent Lie algebra, the Campbell-Hausdorff multiplication defines a nilpotent Lie group structure on the space C 0 m. The gauge action
of an element C 0 m on C 1 m is given by
1 exp(ad )
7 exp(ad ) +
(d)
ad
in terms of power series.
Suppose now one has a deformation problem M(P ) over C as in 3.1. To say that a
DGLA C controls this deformation problem means that the two functors
M(P ) ) : ART SET

and

Def(C) : ART SET

are isomorphic:
M(P ) = Def(C).
Constructing a DGLA responsible for a deformation problem is an ad-hoc process with
no all-encompassing recipe. Typically the DGLAs one first constructs in deformation
theory are infinite-dimensional, and there might be multiple choices of such constructions. The second statement of Delignes Principle is then crucial:
Theorem 3.4 ([GM-1988]). The deformation functor Def(C) only depends on the 1homotopy type of C. More precisely, if a morphism of DGLA f : C D is 1-equivalent,
then the induced transformation on functors f : Def(C) Def(D) is an isomorphism.
This finishes the explanation of Delignes Principle.
Example 3.5. ([FIM-2012]) For a complex manifold or complex algebraic variety X,
the infinitesimal deformations of an OX -coherent sheaf E are controlled by the DGLA
of global sections
q
q
q
(X, A (End (E )))
q
q
q
of any acyclic resolution A of the sheaf of DGLAs End (E ) of a locally free resolution
q
q
E of E. If X is a complex manifold, then A can chosen to be the Dolbeault resolution.

RECENT RESULTS ON COHOMOLOGY JUMP LOCI

Remark 3.6. A theorem due to Lurie [Lu-2011] and Pridham [Pr-2011] in the framework
of derived algebraic geometry states that, with the appropriate axiomatization, Delignes
Principle is a theorem. However, in this axiomatization the notion of a deformation
problem might be different than the classical notion we have defined, and a classical
deformation problem might not come from any new type of deformation problem.
3.3. Deformations with constraints. By a deformation problem with cohomology constraints we mean the study of formal germs of cohomology jump loci
i
Vk,(P
) M(P )

for all i and k at once. This is equivalent to describing the corresponding functors on
i
local Artin rings which we denote also by Vk,(P
) , and which in fact are usually well-defined
even if the formal germs are not.
In [BW-2013], a generalization of Delignes Principle has been proposed and illustrated
in several examples:
New Principle. Every deformation problem with cohomology constraints over a field
of characteristic zero is controlled by a pair consisting of a DGLA together with a DGL
module, with two quasi-isomorphic pairs giving the same deformation theory with cohomology constraints.
Let us explain what this means. The deformation problem without constraints M(P )
comes, as claimed by Delignes Principle, with a DGLA C. Typically this is some kind
of endomorphism object. That is, C does not come alone, but it comes with a natural
module M on which it acts. Given a pair (C, M) consisting of a DGLA and DGL module,
[BW-2013] defines canonicallly cohomology jump deformation functors
Def ik (C, M) : ART SET.
Then
as subfunctors of M(P )

i
i
for all i, k
Vk,(P
) = Def k (C, M)
= Def(C). We recall now the basic details.

3.4. Deformation theory via DGLA pairs.

Definition 3.7. Given a DGLA (C, dC ), we define a module over (C, dC ) to be the
following set of data,
L
(1) a graded vector space M = iN M i together with a bilinear multiplication map
C M M, (a, ) 7 a, such that for any C i and M j , M i+j .
And furthermore, for any C i , C j and M, we require
[, ] = () (1)ij ().
P
(2) a family of linear maps diM : M i M i+1 (write dM = iZ diM : M M),
i
satisfying di+1
M dM = 0. And we require it to be compatible with the differential
on C, i.e., for any C i ,
dM () = (dC ) + (1)i (dM ).
Definition 3.8. A homomorphism of (C, dC )-modules f : (M, dM ) (N, dN ) is a
linear map f : M N such that

NERO BUDUR AND BOTONG WANG

(1) f preserves the grading, i.e., f (M i ) N i ,

(2) f is compatible with multiplication by elements in C, i.e., f () = f (), for
any C and M,
(3) f is compatible with the differentials, i.e., f (dM ) = dN f ().
Fixing a DGLA (C, dC ), the category of C-modules is an abelian category.
Definition 3.9. A DGLA pair is a DGLA (C, dC ) together with a (C, dC )-module
(M, dM ). Usually, we denote such a pair simply by (C, M). A homomorphism of DGLA
pairs g : (C, M) (D, N) consists of a map g1 : C D of DGLA and a C-module
homomorphism g2 : M N, considering N as a C-module induced by g1 . For q
N {}, we call g a q-equivalence if g1 is 1-equivalent and g2 is q-equivalent. Here
a morphism of complexes is q-equivalent if it induces an isomorphism on cohomology
up to degree q and a monomorphism at degree q + 1 (for example, -equivalent means
quasi-isomorphic, which also means homotopy equivalence as complexes since these are
complexes of vector spaces). Moreover, we define two DGLA pairs to be of the same
q-homotopy type, if they can be connected by a zig-zag of q-equivalences. Two DGLA
pairs have the same homotopy type if they have the same -homotopy type.
By keeping the 1-equivalence for the DGLAs in the definition of the q-equivalence for
DGLA pairs, we are using in an economical manner the fact that the Maurer-Cartan set
(to be introduced below) of a DGLA is independent under 1-equivalences.
Definition 3.10. Let (C, M) be a DGLA pair. Then (H (C), d = 0), the cohomology
q
of C with zero differentials, is a DGLA, and (H (M), d = 0), the cohomology of M with
q
zero differentials, is an H (C)-module. We call the DGLA pair
q

(H (C), H (M))
q

the cohomology DGLA pair of (C, M).

Definition 3.11. We say the DGLA pair (C, M) is q-formal if (C, M) is of the same
q
q
q-homotopy type as (H (C), H (M)). A pair is formal is it is -formal.
From now, for a DGLA pair (C, M) we always assume that M is bounded above as
a complex and H j (M) is a finite dimensional C-vector space for every j Z. This is
needed in order to apply the results about cohomology jump ideals from 2.2.
Lemma 3.12. Let (C, M) be a DGLA pair. Let A ART. Given any Maurer-Cartan
element of C C mA , that is
1
C 1 C mA with d + [, ] = 0,
2
there is a complex of A-modules
(1)

(M C A, d )

with
d := d idA +.
Moreover, (M C A, d ) has finitely generated cohomology over A.

RECENT RESULTS ON COHOMOLOGY JUMP LOCI

In particular, one can apply the construction of cohomology jump ideals from 2.2 to
obtain ideals
Jki (M C A, d ) A.
The cohomology jump deformation functors of the DGLA pair (C, M)
Def ik (C, M) : ART SET
are defined by
{ C 1 C mA | d + 12 [, ] = 0 and Jki (M C A, d ) = 0}
.
C 0 C mA
This gives a well-defined subfunctor of Def(C), see [BW-2013]. Theorem 3.4 admits the
following refinement:
A 7

Theorem 3.13. The cohomology jump functor Def ik (C, M) only depends on the number
k and on the i-homotopy type of (C, M).
3.5. Finite-dimensional DGLA pairs. In the presence of finite dimensional DGLA
pairs, the cohomology jump deformation functors are pro-represented by schemes with
explicit equations, up to the gauge action. We explain what this means.
Let (C, M) be a finite dimensional DGLA pair. Fixing a base e1 , . . . , eb of C 1 , denote by x1 , . . . , xb the dual base. We identify the affine coordinate ring OC 1 with the
polynomial ring C[x1 , . . . , xb ]. The universal element of C 1 is defined as the element
wuniv =

b
X

ei xi

in C 1 C OC1 .

i=1

The universal Maurer-Cartan equations are obtained by setting in C 2 C OC 1 ,

1
(dC idOC 1 )wuniv + [wuniv , wuniv ] = 0,
2
where the Lie bracket is extended by multiplication to C C OC 1 . The universal MaurerCartan equations define a closed affine subscheme
F (C) C 1
= Ab
C

containing the origin. This is also called the versal deformation, or Kuranishi space of
C.
Def(C) is pro-represented by F (C)(0) modulo the gauge action when this quotient
exists in the category of schemes. This issue does not arise when, for example, the
gauge action of C 0 on C 1 is trivial. In that case,
Def(C)
= F (C)(0) .
If C is 1-formal, then the universal Maurer-Cartan equations become the quadratic
(that is, degree at most two) equations
[wuniv , wuniv ] = 0.
In this case, F (C) is a quadratic cone and we denote it by Q(C).
On F (C), one can define the OF (C) -linear universal Aomoto complex
(M C OF (C) , dM id + wuniv ).
q

10

NERO BUDUR AND BOTONG WANG

Taking the cohomology jump ideals

Jki (C, M) OF (C)
of this complex, one obtains conic affine closed subschemes
Fki (C, M) F (C).
Now, the cohomology jump deformation functors Def ik (C, M) are pro-represented by
Fki (C, M) modulo the gauge action, when this quotient exists as a scheme. When the
action of C 0 on C 1 is trivial,
Def ik (C, M)
= Fki (C, M)(0) .
When the DGLA pair is formal, the maps in the universal Aomoto complex are given
just by multiplication with the image of wuniv in OQ(C) . Hence the entries of the matrices
representing these maps are images of linear forms from OC 1 = C[x1 , . . . , xb ]. The
Jki (C, M) are generated by minors of these matrices, as explained in 2. We denote the
loci Fki (C, M) in this case by
Rik (C, M),
and they are classically called resonance varieties.
Remark 3.14. One can define the quadratic cones and the resonance varieties from
cohomology in the non-formal cases as well, but the web of connections with original
problem is in general largely lost and their geometric meaning is harder to grasp.
3.6. Dimension bounds. We address the question of providing bounds for the dimensions of cohomology jump loci
Vki M
locally around the point P . Assume for simplicity that the controlling DGLA pair
(C, M) for these loci is a formal DGLA pair with trivial action of H 0 C on H 1 C. Recall
from the last subsection that it is enough to bound the dimension the resonance varieties
of the cohomology pair,
Rik = Rik (HC, HM) Q(HC) = Q.
Define the exactness degree
exdeg(C, M)
to be the smallest degree at which the universal Aomoto complex for the cohomology
pair
q
(H M C OQ , wuniv )
is not exact. By Theorem 2.10, the depth of the ideal defining Ri1 in Q is exdeg(C, M)
i. Suppose in addition that Q is nice enough so that the depth of ideals in OQ is the
same as codimension, for example, that OQ is Cohen-Macaulay. Then locally at P one
has
(2)

codim V1i exdeg(C, M) i.

RECENT RESULTS ON COHOMOLOGY JUMP LOCI

11

4. Deformations of holomorphic vector bundles

Let X be compact complex manifold. A holomorphic vector bundle on X has noninteresting cohomology if X is not compact. The cohomology jump loci of line bundles
on a smooth projective curve are clasically called Brill-Nother loci, see [A+1985]. Cohomology jump loci of vector bundles can be thus considered as generalized Brill-Nother
loci.
Let E be a locally free OX -coherent sheaf on X. By Example 3.5, the deformations
of E are governed by the Dolbeault complex of E,
q

(A0, (End(E)) = ((X, End(E) O 0, ), ),

Dol

with the natural DGLA structure. The deformations of E with cohomology constraints
are governed by the DGLA pair
0,
(A0,
Dol (End (E)), ADol (E)).

The main issue arising when applying the deformation thechniques of 3.1 - 3.4 is that
the DGLA pairs involved are usually infinite-dimensional and not formal, even in the
case of smooth projective curves. We will focus here on cases when formality holds.
Consider the moduli space M of stable rank n holomorphic vector bundles E with
vanishing Chern classes on a compact Kahler manifold X. We consider the Hodgetheoretic flavored cohomology jump loci
Vkpq (F ) M
given by

Vkpq (F ) = {E M | dim H q (X, E OX F OX pX ) k}

with the natural scheme structure, for fixed p and fixed poly-stable bundle F with vanishing Chern classes. In this case, the deformation problem with cohomology constraints
is governed by the DGLA pair
p,
(A0,
Dol (End(E)), ADol (E F )).

Theorem 4.1 ([D+1975], [Si-1992]). Let X be a compact Kahler manifold. For any
E M, the DGLA pair
p,
(A0,
Dol (End (E)), ADol (E F ))

is formal.
Let
Q(E) = { H 1 (X, End (E)) | = 0 H 2 (X, End (E))},
p
q
Rpq
k (E; F ) = { Q(E) | dim H (H (X, E F X ), ) k}.

The set Q(E) is endowed with a natural closed scheme structure defined using the
corresponding universal quadratic equations on the affine space H 1 (X, End(E)). In
particular, Q(E) has quadratic singularities. The set Rpq
k (E; F ) has a natural closed
subscheme structure of Q(E) defined using the cohomology jump ideals as in 3.5 of the
universal complex over Q(E) with OQ(E) -linear maps given by the cup-product:
(H (X, E F pX ) C OQ(E) , univ ).
q

12

NERO BUDUR AND BOTONG WANG

Note that this is a complex of free finitely generated OQ(E) -modules such that the entries
of the matrices representing the maps in the complex come from linear polynomials in
C[H 1 (X, End (E))]. More precisely, Q(E) and Rpq
k (E; F ) are the quadratic cone and,
respectively, the resonance varieties as defined in 3.5 of the cohomology DGLA pair
with trivial differentials
(3)

(H (X, End (E)), H (X, E F pX )).

q

Formality of the DGLA pair implies:

Theorem 4.2. ([BW-2013]) Let X be a compact Kahler manifold. Let E and F be a
stable and, respectively, a poly-stable holomorphic vector bundle with vanishing Chern
classes on X. Then there is an isomorphism of formal schemes
pq
Vkpq (F )(E)
= Rk (E; F )(0) .

This isomorphim means that one has explicit simple equations describing locally at
E the cohomology jump loci Vkpq (F ), via the universal equations mentioned above for
Rpq
k (E; F ). Note that although the equations are simple, the outcome is not necessarily
so.
The isomorphism
(M)(E)
= Q(E)(0) ,
which is a particular case of Theorem 4.2, was shown by Nadel [Na-1988] and GoldmanMillson [GM-1988]. For rank n = 1 bundles, the result is due to Green-Lazarsfeld
[GL-1987, GL-1991].
By fixing the attention on a generic vector bundle E laying in Vkpq (F ), that is, if
dim H q (X, E F pX ) = k,
then the generators of the cohomology jump ideals defining Rpq
k (E; F ) are precisely all
the entries of the matrices defining the cohomology jump ideals. Since these entries are
linear forms, one obtains:
Corollary 4.3. With the same assumptions as in Theorem 4.2, if
dim H q (X, E F pX ) = k,
then Vkpq (F ) has quadratic algebraic singularities at E.
This was also showed for F pX = OX by Martinengo [Mar-2009] and B. Wang
[Wa-2012].
Remark 4.4. The assumptions in the Theorem are made such that the controlling
DGLA pair is formal and the gauge action of H 0 is trivial on H 1 . As explained in
3.5, whenever this is the case, the quadratic cone and the resonance varieties of the
cohomology DGLA pair describe locally the moduli space and the cohomology jump
loci. We will present repetitions of this type of thinking to obtain similar results in
completely different contexts. This is how one puts the New Principle of 3.3 to work.

RECENT RESULTS ON COHOMOLOGY JUMP LOCI

13

5. Deformations of representations and local systems

To a group G, one can associate the set of rank n complex linear representations,
Hom(G, GL(n, C)).
When G is finitely presented, this is an affine scheme. Any finite presentation provides
equations for this scheme. These are in general hard to compute and to extract information from. We will consider groups G in a more geometric context, namely as
fundamental groups of topological spaces.
Let X be a smooth manifold which is of the homotopy type of a finite type CWcomplex, and let x X be a base point. Then the fundamental group 1 (X, x) is
finitely presented. We will use the notation
R(X, n) = Hom(1 (X, x), GL(n, C))
for the moduli space of representations.
Recall that a (complex) local system of rank n on a topological space is a locally
constant sheaf of C-vector spaces of rank n. Every closed point R(X, n) corresponds
to a rank n local system L on X. Conversely, a local system L on X defines a
representation uniquely up to conjugation. This corresponds to the fact that local
systems do not come with a choice of base point x.
Let W be a local system of any rank on X. One can define the cohomology jump loci
Vki (W ) R(X, n)
given by
Vki (W ) = { R(X, n) | dim H i (X, L C W ) k}
with a natural closed scheme structure. For this structure, one uses the cohomology
jump ideals of appropriately chosen universal complexes: either formed via a universal
twisted cochain complex on the universal cover of X, or by using the universal rank n
local system on R(X, n). Both universal complexes lead to isomorphic cohomology jump
loci due to invariance of the latter under quasi-isomorphisms, e.g. [DP-2014, BW-2013].
Remark 5.1. (1) For a group G, one can define the cohomology jump loci of G by
setting X = K(G, 1).
(2) For a smooth manifold X, it is known that the cohomology jump loci Vk1 (CX ) of
rank one representations, which we shall denote by 1k later on, are the same as the
those of its fundamental group. In other words, 1k are invariants of 1 (X), and can be
computed from a finite presentation of 1 (X).
We address the local structure of the cohomology jump loci Vki (W ) at a representation
R(X, n). Equivalently, we ask how one can describe all the infinitesimal deformations of constrained by the condition that the degree i cohomology of the corresponding
local system L has dimension k.
It is almost true that this infinitesimal deformation problem with cohomology constraints is governed by the DGLA pair given by de Rham complexes
(ADR (End (L )), ADR (L C W )).
q

14

NERO BUDUR AND BOTONG WANG

Here, for a local system L on X, the de Rham complex ADR (L) is the complex of global
L-valued C forms with the usual differential. Also, End (L ) is the local system of
endomorphisms of L .
To make this completely true, one needs to reintroduce in the picture the choice of
base point x. Let
q
: ADR (End (L )) g = End (L )|x
be the restriction map. This is a DGLA map, hence we can also define
q

h = (H 0(X, End (L ))).

Goldman-Millson [GM-1988] attach to an augmented DGLA (ADR (End (L )); ) a deformation functor
q
Def(ADR (End (L )); ),
defined as the deformation functor of the kernel of . They show that the formal scheme
of R(X, n) at pro-represents this functor. Similarly, one can define cohomology jump
loci sub-deformation functors attached to an augmented DGLA pair
q

(ADR (End (L )), ADR (L C W ); )

q

as in 3.4, such that they describe the local structure of Vki (W ) at , [BW-2013].
Remark 5.2. In the eye-opening paper [DP-2014], Dimca and Papadima have addressed
the reduced local structure at the trivial representation of cohomology jump loci of
q
representations of fundamental groups. In this case, the de Rham complex ADR (X) of
X plays the controlling role, as it is a module over itself. The results in [BW-2013] were
the outcome of the desire of the authors to extended the results of [DP-2014] beyond
the reduced structure and beyond the trivial representation. The solution in terms of
DGLA pairs to infinitesimal deformation problems with cohomology constraints seemed
natural to us only after reading [DP-2014].
In cases where formality of the (augumented) DGLA pair is present, one can write
explicit local equations for Vki (W ) as explained in 3.5. Let
Q() = { Z 1 (1 (X), gl(n, C)ad ) | = 0 H 2 (X, End(L ))},
Rik (, W ) = { Q() | dim H i (H (X, L C W ), ) k},
with the natural scheme structures, where Z 1 stands for the vector space of 1-cocycles,
ad is the adjoint representation, and is the image of in cohomology.
Similarly, for a local system L on X, define
q

Q(L) = { H 1 (X, End (L)) | = 0 H 2 (X, End (L))},

Rik (L, W ) = { Q(L) | dim H i (H (X, L W ), ) k},
with the natural scheme structures.
q

Theorem 5.3. ([BW-2013]) Let X be a compact Kahler manifold, R(X, n) be a

semi-simple representation, and W a semi-simple local system on X. Then there is an
isomorphism of formal schemes
V i (W )()
= (Ri (L , W ) g/h)(0) .
= Ri (, W )(0)
k

RECENT RESULTS ON COHOMOLOGY JUMP LOCI

15

Remark 5.4. In particular, one has that

R(X, n)()
= (Q(L) g/h)(0) ,
= Q()(0)
a result due to Simpson [Si-1992].
Remark 5.5. With the same assumptions one obtains as before that, if in addition
k = dim H i (X, L ), then Vki (W ) has quadratic singularities at .
Remark 5.6. If is a rank one representation, then the affine space g/h = 0. In fact,
a more general statement holds as we now describe.
Let MB (X, n) be the moduli space of irreducible local systems on X of rank n, see
[Si-1994], and let W another local system. Let
ik (W ) MB (X, n)
be the cohomology jump loci of irreducible local systems. The controlling DGLA pair
in this case is the non-augmented pair
(ADR (End (L)), ADR (L W )).
q

From the formality of this pair one obtains:

Theorem 5.7. ([BW-2013]) Let X be a compact Kahler manifold. Let L be an irreducible local system on X, and let W be a semi-simple local system. There is an
isomorphism of formal schemes
MB(X, n)(L)
= Q(L)(0)
inducing an isomorphism
ik (W )(L)
= Rik (L, W )(0) .
This has also been proved by a different method by Popa-Schnell [PSc-2013] for rank
one local systems L, W = CX , and X a smooth projective complex variety.
Remark 5.8. Due to Simpsons non-abelian Hodge theory [Si-1992], a similar statement
holds for Higgs bundles on smooth projective varieties, via a DGLA pair arising from
the Higgs complex, see [BW-2013].
6. Line bundles and rank one local systems
In this section we specialize to line bundles and rank one local systems. For the space
of rank one local systems on a topological space X we use the notation
MB (X) = Hom(1 (X), C ) = Hom(H1 (X, Z), C ) = H 1 (X, C ).
We will use the following notation for the cohomology jump loci of rank one local systems:
ik = {L MB (X) | dim H i (X, L) k} MB (X),
and identify a representation Hom(1 (X), C ) with the associated local system L .
We first recall how the local systems and line bundles are related in the compact case.

16

NERO BUDUR AND BOTONG WANG

6.1. Local systems vs. Higgs line bundles. We recall the following from [Si-1992].
Let X be a compact Kahler manifold. Let
MDol (X) = {(E, ) | Higgs line bundle} = Pic (X) H 0 (X, 1X ),
where
Pic (X) = ker{c1 : Pic(X) H 2 (X, R)}.
The space MDol (X) is endowed with a natural complex structure. There is an isomorphism of real analytic groups

MB (X) MDol (X)

L 7 (E , ),
which can be thought of as the analytification-tropicalization of MB (X). More precisely,
E is the analytification
E = L C OX ,
and is the tropicalization
= (1, 0)-part of log |||| H 1 (X, R) = Hom(1 (X), R).
Let
UB (X) MB (X)
be the unitary local systems. We have
UB (X) = Hom(H1 (X, Z), S 1 ),
where S 1 C is the unit circle, and
UDol (X) = Pic (X).
UB (X) is a totally real subgroup of MB (X), whereas UDol (X) is a finite disjoint union
of copies of the Picard variety Pic0 (X). For example, for a smooth projective curve of
genus g, we have UB (X) = (S 1 )2g and UDol (X) = Jac(X), the Jacobian of X.
For a Higgs line bundle (E, ), let
H pq (E, ) = H p (H q (X, E X ), ).
q

The cohomologies of rank one local systems and of Higgs line bundles are related via:
Theorem 6.1. ([GL-1987, Be-1988, GL-1991, Si-1992]) Let X be a compact Kahler
manifold. Let L MB (X) be a rank one local system with associated Higgs line bundle
(E, ) MDol (X). Then
M
H i (X, L)
H pq (E, ).
=
p+q=i

This has been extended by Simpson beyond the rank one case in [Si-1992, Si-1994].
We fix in this section the following notation about cohomology jump loci:
ik = {L MB (X) | dim H i (X, L) k}
Vkpq
Vki
Hkpq

= {E Pic (X) | dim H (X, E

pX )

MB (X),
k}

= {E Pic (X) | dim H i (X, E) k}

= {(E, ) MDol (X) | dim H p,q (E, ) k}

Pic (X),
Pic (X),
MDol (X).

RECENT RESULTS ON COHOMOLOGY JUMP LOCI

17

Remark 6.2. Since Pic (X) = UDol (X) MDol (X), one has that
Vkpq = Hkpq Pic (X).
Arapuras trick [Ar-1992] shows, via the theorem above, that every irreducible component of a Hkpq comes from an irreducible component of ik .
Therefore we can take the point of view that studying line bundles with torsion first
Chern class is a particular case of studying rank one local systems.
6.2. Local study. Let X be a complex manifold. Consider the local study of the loci
ik MB (X) at a rank one representation . The DGLA pair describing the formal
schemes
ik,()
is
(ADR (X), ADR (L )),
q

where we denote by ADR (X) the de Rham complex of X.

q
Although ADR (X) might not be formal, from the definition of the deformation functor
q
Def(ADR (X)) one easily computes that
MB (X)()
= H 1 (X, C)(0) .
q

This is of course not necessary, since we have the description

MB (X)
= H 1 (X, C ).
However, the de Rham complex plays the crucial role in understanding further the
properties of the cohomology jump loci.
In particular, ik,(1) , the formal schemes at the trivial representation, are described
q
by the DGLA pair consisting of ADR (X) acting on itself. The Lie structure is trivial
q
here, ADR (X) is actually a commutative differential graded algebra (CDGA). Using the
deformation theory of DGLA pairs as in 3.5, one has the following description, due for
the reduced structure of 1k to Dimca, Papadima, and Suciu:
Theorem 6.3. ([DPS-2009]) Let X be a 1-formal space (e.g. a compact Kahler manifold,
or the complement of a hyperplane arrangement), that is, the de Rham complex is 1formal. Then
1k,(1)
= R1k,(0) ,
and R1k is the tangent cone at 1 MB (X) of 1k . In particular, the irreducible components of 1k passing though 1 are subtori.
Here, Rik are the cohomology jump loci of the universal Aomoto complex
(H (X, C) C C[H 1 (X, C)], wuniv .).
q

Set-theoretically,
Rik = {w H 1 (X, C) | dim H i ((H (X, C), w .) k}.
q

This follows from making explicit for this case the section 3.5.

18

NERO BUDUR AND BOTONG WANG

Remark 6.4. (Hyperplane arrangements I.) This result, for the reduced germs of ik at
the trivial representation, for the case when X is the complement of a hyperplane arrangement, had been obtained earlier by Esnault, Schechtman, and Viehweg [ESV-1992].
By Orlik-Solomon [OS-1980], the cohomology ring of X is a combinatorial invariant of
the hyperplane arrangement, that is, it only depends on the lattice of intersection of the
hyperplanes and not on their positions. Hence, the components through 1 of ik can be
detected combinatorially in this case from the resonance varieties Rik . In the context of
hyperplane arrangements, the resonance varieties have been introduced by Falk, see the
survey articles by Suciu referred to in the Introduction.
Remark 6.5. (Hyperplane arrangements II.) A very difficult folklore conjecture states
that all the cohomology jump loci ik of the complement of a hyperplane arrangement are
combinatorial invariants. A particular case of this conjecture states that the eigenvalues
of the monodromy on the Milnor fiber of a hyperplane arrangement are determined
combinatorially. The best result so far in this direction is the recent paper of Papadima
and Suciu [PaS-2014]. Surprisingly, they use the cohomology jump loci of rank two local
systems and resonance varieties defined over finite fields to address the rank one case.
Remark 6.6. The de Rham complex of X encodes the homotopy type of the topological
space X. A consequence is that the formal scheme
ik (X)(1)
at the trivial representation only depends on the i-homotopy type of X. For the underlying reduced germs, this is due to Dimca-Papadima [DP-2014]. The cohomology jump
deformation functors from 3.4 give the statement for the non-reduced structure as well.
Remark 6.7. (Gysin model) Typically ADR (X) is not formal. Hence the explicit deq
scription of ik (X)(1) depends on finding at least a finite model for ADR (X), that is,
q
a finite dimensional CDGA quasi-isomorphic with ADR (X). The crucial observation of
Dimca-Papadima [DP-2014] is that, if X is a smooth quasi-projective variety, there is
always such a model. This is the Gysin model of Morgan [Mo-1978], defined with respect
to any smooth projective compactification
q

j:X Y
S
with a simple normal crossings divisor Y \ X = iS Di as boundary. Here Di are the
q
irreducible components. For I S, let DI = iI Di . The Gysin CDGA A is defined
by setting
M
M
Ai =
Ap,q ,
Ap,q =
H p (DI , C).
p+q=i

|I|=q

The multiplication is the cup-product

Ap,q Ap ,q Ap+p ,q+q .

The differential on A is defined using the Gysin maps from intersections of the boundary
divisors and it satisfies
Ap,q Ap+2,q1.
q

RECENT RESULTS ON COHOMOLOGY JUMP LOCI

19

The Gysin model A is in fact the (total complex of the) E2 page of the Leray spectral
sequence for the open embedding j:
q

Ap,q = E2p,q = H p (Y, Rq j CX ) Hi (Y, Rj CX ) = H i (X, C).

It is well-known that this spectral sequence degenerates at the E3 page, [PS-2008]. In
q
other words, the cohomology CDGA of A is the cohomology of X. The more general
statement, showing by 3.4 that the infinitesimal deformations of the trivial rank one
local system on X with cohomology constraints are governed by the Gysin model, is the
following:
Theorem 6.8. [Mo-1978] Let X be a smooth complex quasi-projective variety. Then
there is a quasi-isomorphism of CDGAs between the de Rham complex and the Gysin
model,
q
q
ADR (X)
=A .
Hence, as explained in 3.5, the resonance varieties of the Gysin model describe the
local structure of ik at the trivial representation.
Using the positive grading on the Gysin model, Dimca and Papadima draw global
consequences from local information, generalizing Theorem 6.3:
Theorem 6.9. ([DP-2014]) Let X be a smooth quasi-projective complex variety. Then
the components of ik containing the trivial representation are subtori of MB (X).
Further improvements of this result are described next.
6.3. Structure of the cohomology jump loci. We describe now in more detail the
global structural results on cohomology jump loci of rank one local systems and line
bundles. The proofs of the structure theorems for cohomology jump loci are all similar
in plan: a combination of local study, information from mixed Hodge structure theory,
and arithmetic.
Theorem 6.10. ([Ar-1997]) Let X be the complement in a compact Kahler manifold
of a divisor with simple normal crossings singularities. Assume that H 1 (X,
C) = 0.
X
i
Then k are finite union of unitary translates of subtori of MB (X). The same holds
with the extra feature that the positive dimensional
for 11 with no assumption on X,
components are torsion translates.
Theorem 6.11. ([BW-2015]) Let X be a smooth complex quasi-projective variety. Then
the cohomology jump loci of rank one local systems ik are a finite unions of torsion
translates of subtori of MB (X).
Theorem 6.12. ([Wa-2013]) Let X is a compact Kahler manifold. Then the cohomology
jump loci of line bundles ik and Vkpq are a finite unions of torsion translates of subtori
of MB(X) and, respectively, Pic (X).
Here, by subtori of MB (X) we mean affine tori (C )s . By subtori of Pic (X) we
mean compact complex subtori, that is, connected compact complex Lie subgroups; their
underlying topological spaces are real tori.
By Remark 6.2, the statement about Vkpq in the third theorem follows from the statement about ik .

20

NERO BUDUR AND BOTONG WANG

Remark 6.13. The theorems build upon a long list of partial results. The chronology
is the following:
- Beauville [Be-1988] showed the linearity property of V11 for a compact Kahler manifold and conjectured the third theorem for Vkpq ;
- Green-Lazarsfeld [GL-1991] showed the linearity of Vkpq and 1k for a compact Kahler
manifold;
- Arapura [Ar-1992] showed that ik are finite unions of unitary translated subtori
for a compact Kahler manifold. He also showed that Hkpq are finite unions of unitary
translated subtori of Pic (X) times vector subspaces of H 0(X, 1X ), recovering thus the
result of [GL-1991].
- Simpson [Si-1993] proved the theorems for X smooth projective, namely by showing
that the components of ik , and hence of Vkpq , are torsion translated subtori;
- Arapura [Ar-1997] showed the first theorem. A small gap in the proof was filled later
in [AB+2013].
- Campana [Cam-2001] showed the third theorem for 1k ;
- Pink and Roessler [PR-2004] reproved the statement about Vkpq for a smooth projective variety via reduction modulo p;
- in [Bu-2009] we showed that ik UB (X), the cohomology jump loci of unitary rank
one local systems on a smooth quasi-projective variety X, and their Hodge theoretic
refinements, are finite unions of torsion translated subtori of Pic (X) times rational
convex polytopes. Combined with Theorem 6.10, this gives Theorem 6.11 under the
assumptions on the compactification as in Theorem 6.10, as remarked by Dimca and
Libgober.
- Dimca-Papadima [DP-2014] showed Theorem 6.9.
- The final statements of the last two theorems were after this just highly non-trivial
statements about existence of torsion points in each irreducible component of ik , this
being shown recently in [BW-2015] and, respectively, [Wa-2013].
The three theorems suggest that the following question might have a positive answer:
Question 6.14. Let X be the complement of a simple normal crossings divisor in a
compact Kahler manifold. Are the cohomology jump loci ik always finite unions of
torsion translated subtori?
6.4. Fibrations. The structure theorem is more refined in some cases. For a compact
Kahler manifold X, let
aX : X Alb(X)
be the Albanese map. For a compact analytic variety Y , we say that that Y has maximal
Albanese dimension if dim Y equals the dimension of the Albanese of any smooth model
of Y .
Theorem 6.15. ([GL-1991]) Let X be a compact Kahler manifold. Let Z be a positive
dimensional irreducible component of Vki Pic (X). Then there exists an analytic
dominant map
f :XY
with connected fibers to an analytic variety Y of maximal Albanese dimension and
dim Y i,

RECENT RESULTS ON COHOMOLOGY JUMP LOCI

21

such that Z is a translate of f Pic0 (Y ).

As an application, a more careful analysis of the reasons behind Theorem 6.15 allowed
Pareschi and Popa to generalize the classical Castelnuovo - de Franchis theorem from
surfaces to other dimensions:
Theorem 6.16. ([PP-2009]) Let X be a compact Kahler manifold of maximal Albanese
dimension and irregularity q(X). If
(X ) < q(X) dim X
then X admits a surjective morphism with connected fibers onto a normal compact analytic variety Y with
0 < dim Y < dim X

and with any smooth model Y of Albanese general type and with (Y ) > 0.
In the non-compact case, one has the following:

Theorem 6.17. ([Ar-1997]) Let X be the complement in a compact Kahler manifold X

1
of a divisor with simple normal crossings singularities. Assume that H (X, C) = 0. Let
W be a positive dimension irreducible component of ik . Then there exists an analytic
map
f :X T
to an extension T of a compact complex torus by an affine torus, such that W is a
translate of f MB (T ).
In Theorems 6.15 and 6.17, the translates are by torsion elements whenever the assumptions of Theorem 6.10 - 6.12 hold.
The components of the support loci 11 of the first cohomology are completely understood in terms of fibrations, i.e. surjective analytic maps with connected general fiber,
onto curves. Generalizing previous results of [GL-1987, Be-1988, Cat-1991, GL-1991,
Ar-1992] from the compact case to the non-compact case, Arapura proved:
Theorem 6.18. ([Ar-1997]) Let X be the complement in a compact Kahler manifold of
a divisor with simple normal crossings singularities. Then there is a bijection between:
the set equivalence classes of fibrations
f : X C,
where C is a smooth Riemann surfaces minus finitely many points with (C) < 0,
under the equivalence relation f f if there exists an isomorphism g : C C
with g f = f , and
the irreducible positive-dimensional components of 11 containing the trivial local
system.
To a fibration f corresponds the component f MB (C) = f 11 (C).
Remark 6.19. This result has recently been generalized to normal complex varieties by
Arapura, Dimca, and Hain [ADH-2015]. In this paper, they show that 1k for a normal
variety behaves as for a smooth variety. This opens up the question of how much of
what is known about cohomology jump loci of smooth varieties goes through to varieties
with singularities.

22

NERO BUDUR AND BOTONG WANG

Remark 6.20. ([Ar-1997]) An interesting application is that the cardinality Nb (X) of

the set of equivalence classes of fibrations onto curves as above with fixed Betti number
b1 (C) = b depends only on the fundamental group 1 (X). Indeed, it is known that the
support of 1k can be computed from 1 (X). By the theorem, Nb (X) is the number of
irreducible components of 11 of dimension b.
By the torsion translate property, the components of 11 not passing through the trivial
local system, must contain a torsion point. Hence, one can account for these components
by applying the theorem to a finite cover of X. Or, equivalently, one can use the orbifold
language, to which we refer to [AB+2013]. Moreover, in [Di-2007a, Di-2007b, AB+2013],
all the positive dimensional components components of 1k for k > 1 are also accounted
for. The structure of 1k forces constraints on fundamental groups 1 (X), in light of
Remark 5.1. Here are some of the additional properties:
Theorem 6.21. Let X be a smooth quasi-projective complex variety. Then:
([Di-2007b]) Any irreducible component of 1k is also one of 1l for any 1 l k.
([DPS-2008])Any two distinct irreducible components of 1k intersect in at most
finitely many points, and the intersection points are torsion.
([AB+2013]) If Z and Z are distinct irreducible components of 1k and, respectively, 1k , and if Z Z , then 1k+k .
6.5. Dimension bounds. Theorem 6.15 implies a dimension bound:
Theorem 6.22. ([GL-1987, GL-1991]) Let X be a compact Kahler manifold. The cohomology support loci V1i Pic (X) satisfy
codim V1i dim aX (X) i.
Remark 6.23. This codimension bound can also be thought of as a special case of the
codimension bound (2) for DGLA pairs. Indeed, consider V1i locally at trivial line bundle
OX . This is described by the DGLA pair (3) which simplifies in this case to
(H (X, OX ), H (X, OX )).
q

Let exdeg(X) be the exactness degree of this pair as defined in 3.6. Here the quadratic
cone of the pair is the affine space
Q = H 1 (X, OX ).
The universal Aomoto complex in this case is
(H (X, OX ) C OQ , wuniv ).
q

Applying (2), one has that

codim V1i exdeg(X) i.
Then the theorem follows after identifying
exdeg(X) = dim aX (X),
this equality being explicitly stated in [LP-2010, Theorem A].
The bound on the codimension of V1i implies the generic vanishing:

RECENT RESULTS ON COHOMOLOGY JUMP LOCI

23

Theorem 6.24. ([GL-1987]) Let X be a compact Kahler manifold. Then for a general
line bunde L Pic (X),
H i (X, L) = 0

for

i < dim aX (X).

Theorem 6.22 has been generalized to Hodge pieces and to local systems by Popa and
Schnell:
Theorem 6.25. ([PSc-2013]) Let X be a smooth complex projective variety of dimension
n.
The cohomology support loci V1pq Pic (X) satisfy
codim V1pq |p + q n| (aX ),
The cohomology support loci i1 MB (X) satisfy
codim i1 2(|i n| (aX )).
The first part in the theorem implies the second part by the correspondence between
local systems and Higgs line bundles. Here (aX ) is the defect of semi-smallness of the
Albanese map,
(aX ) = max(2l dim X + dim Al ),
lN

where
Al = {y Alb(X) | dim f 1 (y) l}.
A weaker statement for abelian varieties was also proved by Kramer-Weissauer [KW-2015].
Remark 6.26. We like to think of Theorem 6.25 as, again, a special case of the codimension bound (2). In this case, the controlling DGLA pair for V pq locally at the trivial
line bundle is
q
q
(H (X, OX ), H (X, pX )),
according to (3). The quadratic cone of this pair is Q = H 1 (X, OX ) again. The universal
Aomoto complex of this pair is
(H (X, pX ) OQ , wuniv ).
q

Let exdeg(X, p) be the exactness degree of this complex. By (2),

codim V1pq exdeg(X, p) q.
By Hodge symmetry, it is enough to consider the case p + q n. Then the result follows
from the bound
exdeg(X, p) n p (aX ),
shown implicitly in [PSc-2013].
The proof in [PSc-2013] of Theorem 6.25 goes in two steps. The first step is to identify
a rather natural class of coherent sheaves F on an abelian variety A of dimension n such
that the relative cohomology jump loci
Vki (F ) = {L Pic0 (A) | dim H i (A, F L) k} Pic0 (A)
satisfy automatically the bound
codim V1i (F ) i.

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NERO BUDUR AND BOTONG WANG

These are called GV sheaves. This bound is by duality related to the bound (2) obtained
by classical homological algebra. The second step is to note that the derived direct image
of the trivial line bundle under the Albanese map of X decomposes into special sheaves
as above by the Decomposition Theorem for proper maps. The special sheaves are:
Theorem 6.27. ([PSc-2013]) Let A be a complex abelian variety. Let M be a mixed
Hodge module on A with underlying filtered D-module (M, F ). Then
codim V1i (grFk M) i
for all k and i.
6.6. Application to abelian varieties and compact complex tori. ([PPS-2015])
For a stronger statement and a generalization of the previous theorem to compact complex tori, see the recent article of Pareschi, Popa, and Schnell [PPS-2015]. The GV
sheaves, and their related cousins the M-regular sheaves, that is, coherent sheaves F
satisfying the stronger inequality
codim V1i (F ) > i,
have been used to prove the following numerical characterizations in terms of plurigenera:
Theorem 6.28.
([CH-1999]) A smooth complex projective variety X is birational to an abelian
variety if and only if P1 (X) = P2 (X) = 1 and q(X) = dim X .
([PPS-2015]) A compact Kahler manifold X is bimeromorphic to a compact complex torus if and only if dim H 1 (X, C) = 2 dim X and P1 (X) = P2 (X) = 1.
6.7. Constructible complexes on tori. Let K be a C-constructible complex on a
complex manifold. Consider the relative hypercohomology jump loci of rank one local
systems
ik (K) MB (X)
given by
q
ik (K) = {L MB (X) | dim Hi (X, K C L) k}.
Theorem 6.29. ([GaL-1996]) Let K be a perverse sheaf on the affine torus X = (C )n .
Then ik (K) is a finite unions of translates of subtori of MB (X) and
codim i1 (K) i.
We expect the translates to be by torsion elements.
As a corollary, one has the following generic vanishing, the perverse sheaf counterpart
of Theorem 6.24.
Theorem 6.30. Let X (C )n be a closed subvariety of dimension d such that the
shifted constant sheaf CX [d] is a perverse sheaf on (C )n (e.g. a locally complete intersection). Then
(1)d (X) 0.
Remark 6.31. This result had appeared already in [LS-1991] and was attributed to
Laumon in [GaL-1996]. The positivity of the signed Euler characteristic has been later
conjectured for any closed subvariety of (C )n in [HS-2014]. Counterexamples to this
conjecture were recently constructed in [BW-2014].

RECENT RESULTS ON COHOMOLOGY JUMP LOCI

25

In the compact complex torus case, one has:

Theorem 6.32. ([Wa-2013, PPS-2015]) Let X be a compact complex torus. Let K be
a perverse sheaf on X coming from a polarizable real Hodge module. Then ik (K) is a
finite unions of torsion translates of subtori of MB (X).
Here a polarizable real Hodge module is a generalization of unitary local systems, as
opposed to the usual polarizable Hodge modules being generalizations of quasi-unipotent
local systems of geometric origin. The result of [Wa-2013] deals with polarizable Hodge
modules, the extension to real polarizable Hodge modules is due to [PPS-2015].
7. Fundamental groups and homotopy type
7.1. Fundamental groups. Let X be a connected smooth manifold. As pointed out
in Remark 5.1, the moduli space of rank one local systems MB (X) and the cohomology
jump loci 1k are determined by the fundamental group 1 (X). The statement that each
irreducible component of 1k is a torsion translated subtorus puts nontrivial conditions
on the fundamental group of X.
First, let us recall some notations in group theory. Given a group G, we denote its
derived subgroup [G, G] by DG or D 1 G. Let D n G = D(D n1G). Rank(G/D n G) is
defined to be
X
dimQ (D j1G/D j G) Z Q.
1jn

Rank(G/D G) can be a natural number or +.

A group G is called virtually nilpotent if it has a finite index subgroup G which
is nilpotent. A group G is called polycyclic if there is a sequence of subgroups G =
G0  G1   Gn = {0} such that each Gj is a normal subgroup of Gj1 and each
Gj1 /Gj is cyclic.
The following theorem is proved using Simpsons result about ik of smooth projective
varieties.
Theorem 7.1. ([AN-1999]) Let X be a smooth projective variety, and let G = 1 (X).
Suppose that DG is finitely generated and G/D n G is solvable of finite rank for some n.
Then there are normal subgroups P Q D n G so that
(1) G/P is finite,
(2) P/Q is nilpotent,
(3) Q/D n G is a torsion group.
When G is polycyclic, D n G = 0 for sufficiently large n. Moreover the assumption of
the theorem is automatically satisfied. Thus we have the following consequence.
Corollary 7.2. ([AN-1999]) Let X be a smooth projective variety, and let G = 1 (X).
Suppose G is polycyclic. Then G is virtually nilpotent.
By extending Simpsons result to 1k of compact Kahler manifolds, in [Cam-2001]
Campana generalized the above results to the case when X is a compact Kahler manifold.
Let now Gn = [Gn1 , G] denote the lower central series of a group G. The Chen
groups of a group G are the successive quotients in the lower central series of [G, D 2 G].

26

NERO BUDUR AND BOTONG WANG

A remarkable result of Cohen-Schenck [CS-2013], conjectured by Suciu, is that the resonance varieties R11 , as in Remark 6.4, determine combinatorially the ranks of the Chen
groups of the fundamental group of a complement of hyperplane arrangements:
Theorem 7.3. ([CS-2013]) Let k (G) be the rank of the k-th Chen group of the fundamental group G of a complement U of a hyperplane arrangement. Let hk be the number
of k-dimensional irreducible components of the resonance variety
R11 (U) = {w H 1 (U, C) | H 1 (H (U, C), w .) 6= 0}.
q

Then



m+k2
.
k (G) = (k 1)
hm
k
m2
X

This is a consequence of 1-formality, reducedness of the resonance varieties, and some

other special properties that fundamental groups of complements of hyperplane arrangements enjoy. Beyond such groups, it remains to be determined what is the precise
relation between the possibly-nonreduced cohomology jump loci and Chen groups.
7.2. Homotopy type of smooth projective varieties and compact K
ahler manifolds. As we have discussed in Theorem 6.10, Theorem 6.11 and Theorem 6.12 and
thereafter, the special geometry of smooth quasi-projective varieties and compact Kahler
manifolds has strong implications on the cohomology jump loci of rank one local systems
ik . Next, we will show some examples of how to use cohomology jump loci to detect
the non-algebraicity of compact Kahler manifolds.
Every one dimensional compact complex manifold is projective hence Kahler. In dimension two, there are compact complex manifolds that are not Kahler, for example
the Hopf surface or more generally any compact complex surface X with odd b1 (X).
There are also compact Kahler surfaces that are not projective, for example a general
2-dimensional complex torus. However, using the classification of complex surfaces,
Kodaira proved that every compact Kahler surface can be deformed to a smooth projective surface. In higher dimensions, Kodaira problem asks whether a higher dimensional
compact Kahler manifold can always be deformed to a smooth projective variety.
In [Vo-2004], Voisin gave a negative answer to Kodaira problem by a topological
method. More precisely, Voisin constructed compact Kahler manifolds that are not
of the same homotopy type as any smooth projective variety. She also showed how
to modify the example to obtain compact Kahler manifolds that are not of the same
rational (or real) homotopy type as any smooth projective variety. Let us review Voisins
construction first.
Given a compact complex torus T of dimension at least two. Suppose there is a
torus endomorphism of T whose induced endomorphism H 1 () on H 1 (T, Z) satisfies
some special properties. Voisin proved that the special endomorphism forces that the
rational Neron-Severi group NSQ (T ) = H 1,1 (T, C) H 2 (T, Q) is trivial. Hence T is not
an abelian variety.
Fix a compact complex torus T with the special endomorphism as above. Voisin
constructed a 4-dimensional compact Kahler manifold X by blowing up a sequence of
points and surfaces on T T . Voisin managed to encode the information of the endoq
morphism into the cohomology ring H (X, Z). She showed that if another compact

RECENT RESULTS ON COHOMOLOGY JUMP LOCI

27

q
q
Kahler manifold Y has the same cohomology ring, i.e., H (Y, Z)
= H (X, Z) as graded
commutative rings, then Alb(Y ) is not an abelian variety, and hence Y is not projective.
Voisin also gave other constructions so she can encode the information of in the
q
R-coefficient cohomology ring H (X, R). Thus the optimal result of [Vo-2004] is the
following.

Theorem 7.4. [Vo-2004] There exists a compact Kahler manifold X which is not of the
real homotopy type of any smooth projective variety.
In [Wa-2013], Voisins theorem is reproved using cohomology jump loci. A compact
Kahler manifold X is constructed which is very similar to Voisins example. Now, the
information of the endomorphism is now encoded in the cohomology jump locus 21 (X)
of rank one local systems. Thus, by Voisins argument using rational Neron-Severi group,
we obtain the following theorem.
Theorem 7.5. [Wa-2013] There exists a compact Kahler manifold X with the following
property. Suppose Y is another compact Kahler manifold with H 1 (Y, C)
= H 1 (X, C), or
equivalently there is an isomorphism of germs MB (Y )(0)
= MB (X)(0) . If the isomorphism MB (Y )(1)
= 21 (X)(1) , then Y is
= MB (X)(1) induces an isomorphism 21 (Y )(1)
not projective.
As mentioned in Remark 6.6, the pairs of germs ik (X)(1) MB (X)(1) are determined
by the real i-homotopy type of X for all i and k. Thus we can slightly improve Voisins
result to the following.
Corollary 7.6. There exists a compact Kahler manifold X that is not of real 2-homotopy
type of any smooth projective variety.
8. Small ball complements and Bernstein-Sato ideals
We now let X = Cn and let
f :XC
be a holomorphic function. For a point x f 1 (0), let
Uf,x = Bx (X \ f 1 (0)),
where Bx is a small ball centered at x in X.
Conjecture 8.1. Let Uf,x be the complement of a hypersurface singularity germ as
above. Then the cohomology jump loci of rank one local systems ik MB (Uf,x ) are
finite unions of torsion translates of subtori.
Remark 8.2. It is known that the small ball complements Uf,x are 1-formal spaces, see
[DH-1988]. Therefore Theorem 6.3 applies, and hence the conjecture is true for those
irreducible components of 1k (Uf,x ) containing the trivial rank one local system, that is,
those components are subtori.
Remark 8.3. This conjecture is stated erroneously as a theorem in [Li-2009]. We have
also believed it to be proved in loc. cit. until the writing of [BW-2013] when we realized
that the rather difficult Theorem 6.11 should in principle be easier to prove. A red flag
about [Li-2009] was raised then. Scouting for the details, we remarked the following.

28

NERO BUDUR AND BOTONG WANG

Let L be a rank one local system on a a smooth quasi-projective variety X. It is known

q
that if L is unitary, then the cohomology H (X, L) admits a mixed Hodge structure
[Ti-1987]. The attached theory of weights leads, via a well-known argument of Deligne,
to a technique for degeneration of associated spectral sequences, cf. Remark 6.7. In a
more generalized context, this is also the reason why Theorem 6.32 works for polarizable
real Hodge modules. However, if L is not unitary, it is not clear how to construct mixed
Hodge structures nor how to attach weights. This leaves unproved beyond the unitary
case Lemma 3.5 of [Li-2009] on the degeneration of a certain spectral sequence. At least
for this reason, the main result of [Li-2009] is unfortunately still open, and we stated
this as the above conjecture.
The above conjecture generalizes a classical result in singularity theory. Recall that,
by Milnor, the small ball complement Uf,x is a smooth locally trivial fibration over a
small punctured disc in C via the map f . The homotopy class of the fiber is called
the Minor fiber of f at x and it is denote by Ff,x . The conjecture implies the well-known:
Theorem 8.4. (Monodromy Theorem) Let f : (Cn , x) (C, 0) be the germ of
a holomorphic function. Then the eigenvalues of the monodromy on the cohomology
H i (Ff,x , C) of the Milnor fiber are roots of unity for every i.
The precise relation between the conjecture and the Monodromy Theorem is the
following. Assume, for simplicity, that there is locally at x a splitting
Y
f=
fi
1ir

such that
(4)

the fi define mutually distinct, reduced, irreducible analytic branches of f.

In this case,
MB (Uf,x ) = (C )r ,
and a rank one local system L on Uf,x is identified with the r-tuple (C )r given by
the monodromies around each of the branches.
Lemma 8.5. Let f and x be as above, satisfying (4). Let
diag : C MB (Uf,x ) = (C )r
be the diagonal embedding 7 (, . . . , ). Then intersection of the cohomology support
loci of rank one local systems
[
i1 (Uf,x ) MB (Uf,x )
i

with the image of the diagonal embedding is the set of eigenvalues of the Milnor monodromy on the cohomology of Ff,x .
Remark 8.6. When (4) does not hold, one has a similar statement after adjusting the
definition of the diagonal embedding. The lemma follows immediately from [Bu-2015,
Prop. 3.31, Thm. 4]. Note that, as pointed out by Liu-Maxim [LM-2014], in all
the statements in [Bu-2015] where the uniform support Suppunif F CX of the Sabbah
specialization complex appears, the unif should be dropped to conform to what is proven

RECENT RESULTS ON COHOMOLOGY JUMP LOCI

29

in [Bu-2015]. There are two other different proofs of this lemma known to us: one using
the Leray spectral sequence for the Milnor fibration, the other one using perverse sheaves
related to the open embedding of Uf,x in Bx .
A different approach to the Monodromy Theorem was given by Malgrange and Kashiwara. For a holomorphic function f : X C, one defines the Bernstein-Sato polynomial
bf (s) to be the monic generator of the ideal of polynomials b(s) C[s] satisfying
b(s)f s = P f s+1 ,
for some operator
P OX [1 , . . . , n , s],
where OX are the holomorphic functions on X, and i = /xi are the usual derivations
with respect to a choice of coordinates on X = Cn . A non-trivial result of Bernstein and
Sato guarantees the existence of a non-zero bf (s) for any f . If f is a polynomial, then
OX can be replaced with the polynomial ring in n variables.
One has the classical main result about Bernstein-Sato polynomials, letting Exp() =
exp(2i):
Theorem 8.7. Let f : Cn C be a holomorphic function. Then:
([Ka-1976])The roots of bf (s) are negative rational numbers.
([Mal-1983, Ka-1982])The set
{Exp() | is a root of bf (s)} C
is the set of all eigenvalues of the Milnor monodromy on the cohomologies of
Milnor fibers Ff,x of f at points x f 1 (0).
We have taken in [Bu-2015] the point of view that this result of Malgrange and Kashiwara hides a more general statement about rank one local systems and we tried to
uncover what this statement is. Our answer is in terms of the Bernstein-Sato ideals
BF,x C[s1 , . . . , sr ]
attached to the collection of functions
F = (f1 , . . . , fr ),
Qr

with, for simplicity, f = i=1 fi as in (4). The ideal BF,x is defined as the the ideal
generated by the polynomials b C[s1 , . . . , sr ] such that
b(s1 , . . . , sr )

r
Y
i=1

fisi

=P

r
Y

fisi +1

i=1

for some operator

P OX,x [1 , . . . , n , s1 , . . . , sr ],
where xi are local coordinates at x.
For y f 1 (0) close to x, one has the cohomology support loci i1 (Uf,y ) in MB (Uf,y ).
Since now there might be branches fi with fi (y) 6= 0, it is possible that MB (Uf,y ) is a
smaller affine torus than (C )r . Fixing the coordinates t1 , . . . , tr on (C )r , the smaller

30

NERO BUDUR AND BOTONG WANG

affine torus is cut out by the equations ti = 1 for those i with fi (y) 6= 0. By eliminating
these equations, we define the uniform cohomology support loci
i1 (Uf,y )unif (C )r ,
all sitting inside the same affine torus for all y close to x. Consider the zero locus
Z(BF,x ) Cr
of the Bernstein-Sato ideal.
Theorem 8.8. ([Bu-2015]) With the notation as above,
[
i1 (Uf,y )unif ,
Exp(Z(BF,x ))
iZ
yf 1 (0) close to x

and we conjectured that equality holds.

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KU Leuven, Department of Mathematics, Celestijnenlaan 200B, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium

E-mail address: Nero.Budur@wis.kuleuven.be
KU Leuven, Department of Mathematics, Celestijnenlaan 200B, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
E-mail address: wang botong@hotmail.com